• India surpasses WHO guidelines with 1:900 doctor-to-population ratio

    OffBeat
    India surpasses WHO guidelines with 1:900 doctor-to-population ratio
    The WHO recommends a ratio of one doctor to every 1000 people. However, we have attained a ratio of 1:900, which is an improvement over the norms.....


    Digital desk: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare Chairperson, Bhubaneswar Kalita, stressed that "investing in health and hygiene is not just a moral imperative; it is an economic necessity" as the organization embarks on a journey that views illness and wellness from a completely new prism.

    At ASSOCHAM's second Awareness Summit on Illness to Wellness, Kalita stated, "Let us acknowledge India's remarkable evolution in this realm as we delve into the significance of health and hygiene."

    According to Kalita, "The WHO recommends a ratio of one doctor to every 1000 people. However, we have attained a ratio of 1:900, which is an improvement over the norms."

    Bhubaneswar Kalita said, "Beyond being just buzzwords, health and hygiene are the pillars upon which prosperous societies are built. The journey has been arduous yet inspiring. From battling infectious diseases to embracing preventive healthcare, the nation has made significant strides. Over the past decade, we have witnessed a reduction in maternal mortality rates, infant mortality rates, and children under 5 mortality rates."

    These successes highlight the value of strong healthcare programs and the necessity of giving cleanliness habits a top priority. According to him, the government's numerous efforts and programs have made society more health-conscious.

    "As we strive for universal health coverage, it is imperative to empower communities with knowledge and resources to safeguard their wellbeing. The government has increased the number of medical colleges, and we will have one medical college in every district, so shortages of doctors in rural areas will soon be a thing of the past," he added.

    Delivering the welcome address, Anil Rajput, Chairperson, of ASSOCHAM National CSR Council, said, "This initiative was launched in 2014 with the belief that we have the scientific knowledge to create a world in which most of the diseases could be either eliminated or controlled by preventive healthcare awareness. We are driven by a commitment to promote health and wellness for all with a focus on empowerment, education, collaboration, and sustainable impact."

    "Over the years, we have endeavored to maximize outreach and impact, from organizing camps and awareness campaigns on a slew of critical ailments to holding regular webinars on key health developments with the overarching objective of providing remedies and motivation," he added.

    In his keynote speech, Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman of the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in Delhi, stated that disease is a lack of social, physical, mental, and spiritual components, whereas wellness is a state of mind, spirit, and body.

    "A new India for the world has to encompass health towards wellness. The 20th Century was the most scientific 100 years ever lived by mankind, the various discoveries and inventions have turned man into demi-gods and we forgot spirituality," Dr Seth said.

    "A microbe and the COVID pandemic showed humankind the limits of its power and the understanding of working together, of mental health, and empowerment is the silver lining leading us to talk about wellness with greater urgency. Science made us live in the 20th century and we must now combine science with spirituality as we go into the 21st century," he added.

    In his speech, Dr. Anil Agarwal, Medical Director of the Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education Research, Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, stated that promoting public awareness is a crucial step towards encouraging the adoption of healthy habits. 

    He went on to say that it is also crucial that the appropriate information be shared. According to Dr. Agarwal, seeking early medical intervention is advised, as early discovery is the cornerstone of treatment.

    In order to increase public awareness, the focus should be on vulnerable populations and silent murderers. Engaging with school-aged children is a smart strategy since the earlier you start, the more embedded the awareness will be. He continued, "Teaching students the fundamentals of life-saving techniques in schools and colleges will be very effective in combating sudden death."